hinfcfeuuKo 


-A-lsT  ADDRESS 


DELIVERED  BEFORE  TUB 


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^m$wan  ^ ufonualiott 


JANUARY  18,  1881, 


JOHN  L.  WITHROW,  D.  D„ 

Park  Street  Church,  Boston. 


PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST. 


WASHINGTON  CITT; 

pOLONIZ ATION  ^UILDING,  45 0 ^ENNSYLYANIA  ^TENU 


ADDRESS. 


Things  sound  as  if  the  morning  hour  for  Africa  must  have  struck. 
The  last  of  the  six  continents  to  cluim  the  attention  of  the  world,  who 
can  be  sure  she  may  not  yet,  as  the  last  child  of  Jesse,  be  appointed  by 
Providence  to  a place  of  principal  eminence?  Her  calling  is  at  a pro- 
pitious period  of  human  history.  Though  denominated  the  dark  conti- 
nent, her  set  time  strikes  in  the  high  day  of  universal  light,  when  the 
prophecy  is  being  fulfilled  : “ the  darkness  shall  flee  away.”  Other  con- 
tinents have  been  carved  and  shaped  into  the  similitudes  of  palaces  for 
the  people  with  clumsy  and  cruel  weapons  of  civilization:  with  dull 
and  inadequate  agencies  for  education  and  under  bigoted  and  blunder- 
ing leadership  in  religion. 

Would  the  governments  of  Darius  and  Alexander  have  perished  if 
knowledge  had  been  diffused  so  that  politics  had  been  understood  by 
the  people  as  well  as  by  the  archon ; and  religion  by  the  worshipper 
as  well  as  by  the  priest? 

Might  not  Rome  have  still  been  stable  on  her  seven  hills  of  Empire, 
had  she  but  felt  the  thrill  of  disenthralling  individualism,  which  came 
forth  in  convulsions  at  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  but  is  the 
normal  life  of  the  nineteenth? 

Do  the  agonizing  nations  of  Northern  Europe  now  indicate  anything 
more  clearly  than  this,  that  our  era  means  to  end  its  work  by  cutting  the 
clinch  from  the  fetter,  and  flinging  into  the  black  abyss  of  the 
forever  the  last  shackle  of  human  bondage?  Because  the  world  moves, 
mankind  has  come  much  nearer  than  ever  to  know  how  deep  were  the 
words  of  the  Lord:  “ The  son  of  man  came  to  seek  and  save  that  which 
was  lost.”  Naturalism  provides  a physician  for  the  whole;  Biblical 
civilization,  for  them  that  are  sick. 

Old  times  and  nations  Hid  not  imitate  your  parental  care  and  provide 
first  for  the  impotent,  ignorant  and  poor.  They  debated  and  declared 
the  divine  right  of  Kings;  the  lofty  claims  of  feudal  lords;  and  the  in- 
herent eminence  assured  by  color  of  blood,  independent  of  character. 
Ancestral  times  were  reluctant  to  learn  that  a State  cannot  imitate  an 
acrobat  and  stand  upon  its  head.  Later  times  have  learned  it.  And 
now,  whither  have  the  absolute  monarchies  of  earth  departed?  How 
limited  are  the  limits  of  momnrehies  that  yet  remain?  And  how  their 
constantly  shrinking  prerogatives  remind  us  of  the  cage  of  story. 
Built  so  that  the  turn  of  crank  each  morning  made  its  sides  close 
and  shutout  ray  after  ray  of  day,  until  at  last  the  inmate,  was  ebrushed 
by  its  iron  embrace.  And  he  who  designed  and  built  it  suffered  death 
by  it.  So  those  old  Constitutions  and  States,  which  potentates  composed 


i 


to  press  the  life  out  of  the  common  people,  for  the  pleasure  and  profit 
of  fortune’s  favorites, are  closing  on  their  builders,  as  the  shrinking  cage; 
until  there  is  hardly  a royal  house  that  does  not  suffer  a continual  ache 
of  apprehension  for  the  future  of  crowned  heads.  Up  to  this  pro- 
pitious present  where  will  we  find  a continent  or  country  whose  begin- 
nings of  civilization  were  not  hampered  by  the  restrictions  of  popular 
rights?  This  accounts  for  empires  perishing,  and  for  the  slow  pro- 
gress made  by  such  as  survive. 

Consider  the  condition  of  England  at  the  hour  of  the  Norman  con- 
quest, and  compare  her  with  Great  Britain  now ; and  how  very  slowly  she 
has  moved  during  those  eight  centuries!  England  would  not  have  been 
so  long  in  rising  from  the  bogs  and  barbarism  of  her  beginning  to  be- 
come, as  she  is,  the  first  of  Christian  Kingdoms,  if  Alfred  the  Great  had 
begun  his  work  at  the  same  time  that  you  planted  a Colony  on  the  shores 
of  Africa! 

But  three  and  three  quarter  centuries  have  a little  more  than  elapsed 
since  white  men  commenced  to  fashion  our  national  fabric  from  the 
American  forests.  Only  two  hundred  and  sixty  Decembers  have  sheet- 
ed Plymouth  Rock  with  ice  since  the  pious  and  intrepid  Puritans  sowed 
the  aecds  of  republican  liberty  along  the  New  England  coast.  But  a 
hundred  and  four  times,  the  fourth  of  July’s  rejoicings  have  reverberated 
over  our  heads  as  an  independent  people.  For  ninety  and  two  years 
only  we  have  slept  under  the  canopy  of  a national  Constitution.  And 
behold  how  much  further  we  have  advanced  in  less  than  four  centuries, 
than  England  did  in  six. 

And  yet  our  beginnings  were  under  heavy  disabilities.  What  slug- 
gish shipss  ailed  the  seas?  What  tardy  communications  circulated  ideas? 
What  loitering  messengers  imparted  intelligence?  How  narrow  were 
the  notions  of  natural  laws!  IIow  dull  was  the  appetite  for  progress  in 
art!  Science  was  an  embryo.  Religion  largely  a superstition.  Com- 
merce a name.  Civilization  rude.  Culture  crude.  International  comi- 
ty unknown.  China  was  a sealed  munition;  J^pan  a myth  ; England  an 
enemy  and  all  Europe  a fiercely  contested  battlefield.  Therefore,  there 
is  no  other  ground  of  national  boasting  so  broad  and  safe  as  this;  that 
we  have  done  as  well  as  we  have,  considering  the  hindrances  at  the  outset. 

During  these  dolorous  ages  Africa,  as  a diamond  in  the  mine, ^lias 
been  hid  in  the  dark  waiting  for  the  digger,  the  lapidary  and  the  day 
when  she  may  dazzle  and  decorate  the  world.  Her  time  arrives  when  the 
noise  of  war  is  scarcely  heard  under  the  sun;  when  Kings  and  Captains 
have  loosed  their  clutch  of  spears  and  swords  to  take  up  plows  and  pens; 
when  for  Councils  of  War  we  select  Commissions  of  arbitration;  when 
the  haughtiest  power  cannot  abuse  its  subjects,  any  more  than  a heart- 
less driver  can  the  dumb  brute,  without  having  such  protests  and  penal- 
ties imposed  as  Austria  and  Turkey  have  recently  heard  and  heeded. 
The  hour  for  Africa  is  when  nations  are  not  clamorous  for  territorial 


s 


conquest,  but  rich  enough  to  offer  unlimited  wealth  for  investment  and 
for  her  development : and  religious  enough  to  give  aid  to  those  who  will 
carry  her  the  best  schools  and  the  most  Bibles ; build  the  fewest  confes- 
sionals; bind  her  conscience  the  least  and  exalt  her  social  life  the  most. 

When  the  plans  and  impulses  of  Providence  prompted  the  opening  of 
North  America — except  a few  scattered  fishermen  who  came  down  from 
the  north  not  to  stay — there  were  but  two  great  nations  that  could 
take  time  from  war  at  home  to  man  expeditions  and  plant  colonies  in 
this  new  country.  To  day  the  entire  world  nearly  looks  through  the 
open  gates  of  Janus  in  the  only  one  direction  that  remains  to  invite  the 
explorer;  and  is  eager  to  follow  him.  Ships  have  been  stripped  of  lazy 
sail  and  filled  with  impatient  steam.  Monrovia  is  nearer  New  York  than 
Pittsburg  was  when  your  Society  elected  its  first  President.  At  thirty 
or  forty  different  points  ambitious  parties  are  seeking  entrance  to  the 
unknown  secrets  of  Africa;  and  may  be  we  will  hold  our  breath  when 
they  briug  back  full  reports,  by  and  by.  They  are  clothed  with  peace; 
weaponed  with  implements  of  the  best  civilization ; aflame  with  the 
loftiest  aspiration  and  devoted  to  the  extension  of  that  religion  which, 
alone  has  a heaven-born  right  to  reign.  Theodolites  and  spades  are 
ready  to  alter  footpaths  into  railroads,  on  which  engines  will  ultimate- 
ly each  drag  hundreds  of  tons  where  but  a few  stone- weight  have  been 
loaded  on  brutes  and  slaves’  backs  from  the  beginning.  The  desert  of 
Sahara,  from  side  to  side,  is  soon  to  be  seeded  with  the  roses  of  industry 
which  railroads  are  sure  to  sow.  And  the  Niger  is  to  cradle  keels  that 
will  carry  some  such  promise  and  potency  for  the  Western  side  of  the 
Continent,  as  the  Nile  did  for  the  little  nook  of  Egypt  when  it  bore 
Moses  in  the  basket  of  bulrushes.  , 

For  this,  prosperous  France  appropriates  this  year  six  millions  of 
francs.  Germany  unites  the  purse  of  her  Parliament  with  the  resources 
of  her  geographical  societies,  and  commissions  six  expeditions  to  go  and 
see  this  thing  which  has  come  to  pass,  and  bring  her  word  again. 
Though  trembling  under  the  burdens  of  taxation  and  weary  with  schem- 
ing, to  sustain  her  standing  as  a solvent  nation,  Italy  is  unable  to  hold 
off  her  hands  from  knocking  for  admission  to  Africa.  Spain,  never  in- 
different to  her  neighbor  beyond  the  narrows  of  Gibraltar,  now  wakes 
to  unwonted  energy ; and  enters  eagerly  into  the  competition  with  others, 
if  haply  she  may  on  the  eastern  side  sieze  the  pearl  of  great  price.  Of 
all  names  that  are  taken  up  tenderly  in  our  times  none  receives  more  rev- 
erent regard  than  that  of  David  Livingstone ; the  factory  boy  of  Blantyre, 
who  became  for  ever  illustrious  by  hiding  himself  in  the  bosom  of  the 
dark  continent — as  a lamp  in  a lantern — thereby  becoming  its  light, 
and  as  well  making  it  luminous  to  all  who  look  at  it. 

The  intrepid  Stanley  is  as  renowned  as  was  a great  warrior  of  old  ; simp- 
ly because  he  has  carried  the  torch  of  a Christian  civilization,  and  the  let- 
ters which  spell  liberty  further  than  any  white  man  into  the  interior  and 
up  to  Mtesa’s  Court ! Surely  things  sound  as  if  the  morning  hour  for 


e 


Africa  has  struck. 

In  this  consort  of  nations,  closing  round  her  coasts, — their  minds  on 
her  mines  of  precious  ores;  eyes  on  her  elephants  and  ivory;  snuffing 
her  spice  groves  and  peering  into  the  mouths  of  her  waters  to  see  where 
her  rivers  of  palm  oil  rise,  what  attitude  and  anxiety  best  becomes  us 
as  a nation?  Not  the  same  as  is  seemly  for  others.  No  other  nation 
has,  as  we  have,  crushed  and  milled  her  sons  into  riches,  as  the  canes  of 
the  sugar  fields  are  worked.  No  other  nation  has  been  so  ignorant  and 
rapacious  as  ours  in  robbing  this  subject  race  of  its  blood,  and  rolling  it 
up  as  the  make  weight  of  cotton  bales,  and  chiefest  wealth  and  sign  of 
boasted  social  supremacy  of  the  proudest  section  of  the  body  politic. 
Therefore,  by  no  rule  of  righteousness  can  we  seek  first  the  prizes  of 
commerce  which  rightfully  allure  other  lands.  Or  if  we  do,  and  do  ob- 
tain them,  I fear  the  curse  of  ill-gotten  pain  will  accumulate  as  between 
us  and  these  our  ebony  brothers  of  one  blood. 

It  is  time  for  us  to  begin  to  serve  Africa;  to  redress  unutterable 
wrongs  by  “ works  meet  for  repentance.”  The  eternal  throne  of  justice 
may  express  its  full  satisfaction  with  African  slave-holding  America 
when  we  do  more  than  God’s  compulsory  Providence  in  war  compelled 
us  to  do — cut  the  shackle  and  set  the  black  man  free.  When  we  do 
more  than  put  into  the  hands  of  benighted  ignorance  a ballot,  to  make 
the  black  man  a voter  in  form,  but  a victim  of  all  political  villainy  in 
fact.  When  we  do  even  more  than  open  public  schools  and  university 
courses  for  his  education. 

Story  books,  that  we  read  in  boyhood,  had  thrilling  tales  of  Indians 
stealing  children  from  families  of  white  people  on  the  frontier.  The 
agonies  of  parental  sufferings!  how  vividly  they  are  painted!  The  pe- 
rils of  the  pure  maiden  as  a prisoner  in  the  wigwam  of  wicked  men ; and 
the  months  and  years  of  anguish  that  intervene  before  word  is  brought 
home  how  the  lost  child  is,  we  can  easily  recall!  Suppose  it  were  our 
child,  and  all  we  heard  was  that  her  captors  had  cut  the  cords  from  her 
wrists;  had  agreed  not  to  degrade  her  character  any  deeper  by  unspeak- 
able lawlessness;  and  had  opened  a school  in  which  her  offspring  of 
shame  might  see  what  they  could  do  to  recover  themselves. 

Could  our  indignation  acquit  even  an  aboriginee  who  w ould  con- 
sider this  a decent  travesty  of  justice!  Give  me  back  my  child,  is  the 
choking  cry  of  abused  parental  love.  * 

And  if  Africa  is  too  far  off  for  our  ears  to  catch  her  cry : or  if  ignor- 
ance and  oppression  have  so  deadened  her  best  sensibility  that  she  has 
ceased  to  know  how  shamefully  she  has  suffered  in  the  robbery  and 
commerce  of  her  children,  we  believe  heaven  hears  for  her,  and  holds  the 
book  of  account. 

And  if  so,  our  bounden  duty  is  to  undertake,  more  errnestly  than 
ever  for  Africa  both  here  and  abroad,  all  enterprises  that  promise  to  re- 
dress her  wrongs  and  to  return  her  offspring,  who  may  have  a hunger 
for  home,  to  the  land  of  their  fathers.  Therefore  it  goes  withont  say- 


ing,  that  those  imposing  plans  of  the  American  Board  to  plant  the  agen 
cies  and  emblems  of  salvation  at  Bihe  deserve  the  sympathy  and  suppli- 
cation of  every  American  citizen.  They  go  not  for  gain,  but  the  good 
of  souls,  the  glory  of  God  and  the  illumination  of  the  dark  land.  So 
does  the  Mendi  Mission,  which  now,  under  our  American  Missionary 
Association,  after  thirty  years  of  feeble  success  and  fearful  sacrifice  of 
white  missionaries,  is  setting  out  to  bring  salvation  to  that  part 
of  Africa  through  the  service  of  her  own  sons. 

But  passing  these  and  other  agencies  with  only  a word  of  benediction, 
we  are  now  to  consider,  whether  this  African  Colonization  Society  ought 
not  still  to  have  a share  of  sympathy  and  a swelling  measure  of  substan- 
tial support  in  doing  a part  of  this  work. 

It  ought;  considering  its  patient  continuance  in  well  doing  up  to 
this  present.  At  a meeting  held  in  Park  St.  church,  Boston,  about  a 
year  ago,  in  the  interests  of  your  Society,  Rev.  Joseph  Cook  shocked  the 
audience  into  intense  attention  by  this  opening  sentence:  “Liberia  is 
bankrupt!”  He  instantly  relieved  our  solicitude  by  saying;  “These 
were  the  words  of  an  opponent  of  African  Colonization  which  I heard 
while  coming  down  to  the  church.” 

It  was  not  our  Boston  orator  who  declared  “ Liberia  is  bankrupt.” 
And  it  may  not  have  been  the  best  informed  from  whom  he  took  his  ora- 
torical fire-cracker. 

The  outs,  if  they  are  of  a critical  mind,  have  every  advantage  over  the 
ins  that  endeavor  to  promote  an  enterprise.  Because  it  is  so  much  eas- 
ier to  criticise  than  to  construct;  easier  to  give  reasons  for  refusing  fav- 
nr  than  to  establish  truth  by  argument  and  effort. 

Of  those  who  have  least  faith  in  African  Colonization  and  least  fervor 
in  forwarding  your  endeavors,  it  may  not  be  uncharitable  to  guess,  the 
lack  is  due  largely  to  the  same  cause  which,  we  read,  gave  God  such 
grief  in  the  days  of  the  prophets;  “Israel  doth  not  know;  my  people  do 
not  consider.”  But,  remembering  how  much  there  is  to  know  and  do  in 
our  day,  we  need  not  feel  aggrieved  if  all  good  men  are  not  enlisted  in 
every  excellent  movement. 

It  does  not  disturb  the  faith  we  have  in  the  temperance  reform  that 
some  really  pious  people  are  imprudent  enough  to  tipple.  Nor  ought 
it  to  inflnence  any  friend  of  African  Colonization  unfavorably  to  hear  of 
ardent  philanthropists  who  prefer  another  way  of  paying  our  debts.  It 
weighs  nothing  against  this  Society’s  work,  that  we  know,  if  even  the  de- 
based race,  for  whose  welfare  it  has  so  patiently  worked,  are  not  entire- 
ly enthusiastic  in  their  praise  of  it.  That  signifies  nothing;  because  their 
intelligence  is  not  yet  so  broad  and  clear  but  that  they  are  in  dread  of 
the  very  uncertain  white  man  who  from  the  time  he  first  stole  their  fore- 
fathers and  enslaved  them  has  shown  an  ingenuity  in  mistreating  men 
of  their  color.  Neither  do  any  short  comings  of  complete  success  in 
the  free  colony  and  Republic  of  Liberia  settle  the  question  against  your 
eloquent  appeal  for  enlarged  support.  Nations  do  not  grow  as  Jonah’s 


$ 


gourd — unless  to  wither  as  quick.  It  was  1821  before  a permanent  be- 

ginning of  the  Republic  of  Liberia  was  recorded.  Since  then  only  sixty 
years  have  passed.  Sixty  years  with  sixty  wings  on  every  minute  of  the 
time,  and  bow  swiftly  the  years  do  fly. 

Take  account  of  any  other  nation  that  started  on  so  desolate  a site, 
on  such  stinted  supplies,  in  the  teeth  of  such  hostilities,  and  see  how 
much  more  any  one  of  them  achieved  in  their  first  sixty  years.  What 
was  there  to  show  on  these  shores  within  sixty  years  from  the  coming 
of  Columbus?  Or  wait  six  years  after  the  Spanish  keel  had  cut  a track 
across  the  sea,  when  the  first  English  colony  of  300,  under  Sabastian 
Cabot,  arrived,  and  then  count  forward  sixty  years,  and  compare  the  re- 
sults with  Ihose  of  Liberia.  Quite  seventy  years  elapsed  before  there 
was  so  much  as  a permanent  colony  planted  north  of  the  gulf  of  Mexi- 
co. True  the  world  was  younger  then  than  now,  and  equal  progress 
could  not  be  expected.  But  we  may  be  more  generous,  and  not 
begin  to  inquire  of  the  American  colonies  for  a full  century  after  Cabot’s 
company  came.  And  yet  starting  thus,  in  1598,  we  shall  need  to  wait 
two  weary  centuries  more  before  those  colonies  are  seamed  and  cement- 
ed under  a Constitution  of  States. 

So  that  if  the  short-comings  of  African  Colonization  were  even  more 
real  than  they  are  now  imaginary,  the  propriety  of  supporting  it  does 
not  deserve  a snap  judgment  against  it. 

When  reading  recently  more  carefully  than  before  the  significant 
facts  of  the  Society’s  history,  I paused  at  this;  it  was  in  the  ship 
“Elizabeth  ” your  first  eighty  immigrants  were  carried  to  Africa.  We  re- 
cal  another  Elizabeth  who  bore  a forerunner  of  her  race  and  the  pioneer 
of  a holy  dispensation . Her  child  endured  many  a year  of  ascetic  sac- 
rifice and  severe  labors  in  the  wilderness  of  Judea  merely  to  “prepare 
the  way  of  the  Lord .”  He  organized  nothing.  He  established  nothing. 
This  son  of  the  New  Testament  Elizabeth  was  satisfied  if  he  might  be 
but  “the  voice  ” of  the  better  things  to  come.  And  if  the  results  of 
the  voyage  of  that  Eliizabeth  of  yours,  in  all  the  years  since  she  touched 
at  Sherbro  Island  had  been  but  to  prepare  the  way  of  the  people  who 
are  yet  to  follow,  and  to  secure  the  blessings  that  Liberia  may  yet  be- 
stow on  Africa,  we  ought  to  say  of  the  Society;  “Well  done  good  and 
faithful  servant!  ” 

A second  reason  why  the  African  Colonization  Society  onght  to  survive 
and  be  strengthened  is,  that  better  than  any  other  it  is  now  equipped 
to  aid  these  restless  sons  of  Africa  to  return  home. 

With  some  it  is  a first  question  whether  they  are  restless,  and  do  ask 
to  r turn,  The  street  says,  no.  Statistics  say,  yes?  And  of  the  two, 
statistics  may  be  taken  as  the  more  sober  and  reliable  witness.  But  I 
have  not  met  a more  a 1 verse  view  of  this  work  than  comes  from  those 
who  quote  the  street.  They  think  the  fundamental  idea  of  the  Society 
is  fallacious:  because  the  colored  people  do  not  desire  aid  to  return  and 
it  is  at  variance  with  the  truth  to  say  they  do!  May  I not  safely  make 


9 


this  answer  on  your  behalf?  If  they  do  not,  then  they  need  not. 

They  are  not  to  be  coerced  nor  cheated  into  changing  countries. 
This  Society  has  no  kidnappers  roaming  the  South.  No  cunning  repre- 
sentations of  yours  are  deceiving  the  colored  population  of  the  Carolines. 
No  oily-lipped  agent  in  Florida  or  Louisiana,  similar  to  those  who  serve 
the  Chinese  companies  of  California  in  Asia,  or  the  Mormon  monstrosity 
in  Northern  Europe  are  securing  you  emigrants.  You  do  not  flash  tho 
south  with  posters  promising  these  poor  people  they  will  find  Liberia  the 
Eldorado  where  they  can  pick  up  riches  a?  stones  iu  the  street.  That  is 
the  way  they  used  to  draw  emigrants  from  Ireland, — more’s  the  pity.  But 
as  far  as  the  cast  is  from  the  west  is  any  measure  of  yours  from  that  bold 
operating  of  modern  mining  companies,  which  capitalizes  a shadow  at 
millions,  on  paper,  and  puts  the  shares  on  the  market  at  a sixpence. 
And  so,  it  has  but  little  appearance  of  undue  influence,  where  I read  iu 
“ Information  about  going  to  Liberia  that  each  emigrant  on  his  arrival  is 
given  only  a town  lot,  or  ten  acres  of  land.1’  For  if  he  remains  in  Amer- 
ica there  arc  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  open  to  his  occupancy.  When 
it  is  asked:  “IIow  can  I make  a living  in  Africa;”  the  answer,  as 
printed,  is  not  particularly  enticing  to  a people  who  are  naturally  tired. 
It  says:  “In  the  same  way  that  you  would  make  one  anywhere  else;  that 
is  by  industry  and  economy.” 

This  is  not  even  so  inviting  as  the  inducement  which  an  Irish  labor- 
er, lately  landed  in  America,  offered  to  friends  in  the  old  country  to  fol- 
low him  here.  I have  nothing  to  do,  wrote  he,  but  lug  loads  of  brick  to 
the  top  of  the  building,  and  another  man  does  all  the  work.  Emigrants 
to  Liberia  learn  before  leaving  home  that  the  sentence  of  Ilcaven  stands 
in  Africa  as  here:  “In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat 

bread.”  But  notwithstanding  the  ignoraucc  there  is  among  the  colored 
people  of  the  opportunity  presented  to  them  to  obtain  an  independence, 
a self-control,  a social  respect,  and  political  influence,  which  for  gener- 
ations to  come  but  few  of  their  race  can  reach  by  remaining  in  America; 
and  notwithstanding  the  slight  inducements  that  arc  offered  them  in 
passage  and  in  property,  this  conservative  Society  asserts,  that  of  its 
knowledge  there  arc  half  a million  of  the  people  of  color  who  arc  agi- 
tating the  question  of  emigration  to  Liberia.  If  so  it  would  seem  befit- 
ting that  this  firs:  friend  of  Western  Africa’s  civilization  should  be  en- 
abled to  aid  this  restless  offspring  of  the  early  slaves.  Except  the  Afri- 
can, there  is  no  race  represented  in  our  heterogeneous  population  whose 
offspring  might  not  be  able  without  any  outside  aid  to  emigrate  wliere- 
cver  they  would — over  all  the  earth,  provided  their  fathers  had  used  their 
opportunities  and  economized  their  profits.  But  it  has  been  otherwise 
with  the  African  race.  Of  the  millions  of  them  who  were  slaves,  not 
one  has  a son  over  eighteen  years  of  age  who  was  not  born  with  tho 
brand  of  bondage  on  his  brow  and  a fetter  on  his  foot,  unfitting  him  to 
easily  find  his  way  beyond  the  base  estate  iu  which  his  ancestors  have 
suffered  for  centuries.  And  it  agrees  with  the  best  impulses  and  deep- 


10 


e£t  principles  of  justice  that  we  owe  it  to  every  son  of  those  sires  who 
lived  and  died  in . servitude,  to  put  it  within  their  power  to  go  and 
take  up  a residence  wherever  they  desire. 

Do  sonic  of  them  yearn  for  that,  to  them,  most  of  all  sacred  state,  the 
fat  lands  of  Kansas?  Then  wc  would  throw  open  every  door,  despite 
any  specious  argument  which  former  owners  urge  against  losing 
them  from  the  cotton  fields.  And  more,  as  Joseph  put  money 
into  the  bag  of  his  brethren  it  would  be  but  scant  charity  if  ev- 
ery emigrant  to  that  land  should  have  given  him  as  good  a send  off  as 
you  promise  to  those  who  start  for  Liberia.  So,  too  our  God  speed 
would  go  with  all  who  ask  t lie  way  to  South  Africa,  or  to  the  rising-sun- 
side  of  their  fatherland,  ‘*with  their  faces  thitherward.”  But  multi- 
tudes are  looking  to  Western  Africa:  and  when  it  is  inquired  who  is  in  a 
position  to  best  promote  their  going  there  does  not  appear  any  ground  to 
debate  that  you  arc.  Whether  thinking  of  the  wisdom  of  the  illustrious 
men  who  have  managed  this  Society — and  before  the  array  of  their 
names  the  spirit  of  reverence  spontaneously  bows. — or  whether  wc  reck- 
on the  superior  advantages  of  climate  and  geography  of  your  young  Re- 
public or  if  we  note  the  numerous  pointings  of  Divine  Providence 
which  prophecy  a brilliant  future  for  Liberia,  it  does  look  unreasonable 
and  is  due  to  some  ignorance  that  all  well  wishers  of  colored  people  are 
not  friends  of  African  Colonization. 

And  this  leads  me  to  the  next  reason  why  the  Society  ought  to  succeed  . 
Third  ; The  American  Republic  owes  it  to  her  only  child,  the  Republic  in 
Africa,  that  she  shall  receive  such  supplies  as  will  insure  her  stability 
and  preserve  her  purity. 

We  say  things  sound  as  if  the  morning  hour  for  Africa  has  struck. 
But  there  are  hours  before  the  third.  We  do  not  forget  that  for  a hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  fearless  and  faithful  followers  of  Christ,  have  been 
laboring  to  lift  South  Africa  into  the  light  of  Christian  civilization.  lie 
reads  little  of  the  world’s  heroes  who  knows  not  George  Schmidt,  the 
pioneer  of  African  missions;  nor  of  that  illustrious  scholar,  soldier  and 
saint,  Vandcrkemp,  who  gave  his  great  heart  and  life  for  Kaffirs  and 
Hottentots,  nor  yet  of  Robert  Moffat,  whose  glory-crowned  grey-head 
was  cynosure  at  the  Mildmay  Missionary  Conference  in  1879. ; and  who 
owed  the  honors  he  received,  and  is  to  receive  unto  and  after  death  to 
the  unmatched  services  and  sacrifices  he  has  given  to  missions  in  South 
Africa.  It  is  not  forgotten  that  Cape  Colony  gives  a brighter  view  of 
the  continent  than  Victoria  Nyanza,  Bornu,  or  the  upper  Niger.  That 
where  George  Schmidt  planted  his  “handful  of  corn”  mission  near- 
ly two  hundred  thousand  Christians  have  come  to  the  Cross,  and  es- 
tablished the  faith  in  South  Africa. 

But  none  of  the  beginnings  in  that  region  belong  to  us.  To  Great 
Britain  and  the  Dutch  Boers  belong  the  Cope,  the  Orange  River  Free 
State:  and  the  Transvaal  Republic.  And  as  posterity  will  hold  them 
responsible  for  their  good  or  evil  influence  over  the  poor  natives,  so  it 


11 


must  be  with  us  up  the  coast,  where  we  are  trying  the  experiment  of  a 
Republic,  built  on  a pattern  received  by  us  in  the  holy  Mount  Calvary. 
Liberia  is  far  from  home,  and  hard  pressed  by  heathen  populations  that 
would  enthral  her  liberty  by  exhibiting  to  her  ruling  spirits  the  advantages 
of  oppression.  The  child  is  separated  by  wide  seas  from  this  parental  at- 
mosphere that  has,  as  its  vital  element  of  intelligent  enterprise  and  inde- 
pendence, the  prayers  Lnd  piety,  traditions  and  tendencies  which  arise 
as  a fountain  under  the  Christian  Church  and  circulate  through  all  the 
channels  of  social,  commercial,  literary  and  political  life. 

Remembering  Liberia’s  proximity  to  populous  and  profoundly  de- 
based neighborhoods,  it  is  worthy  of  our  wonder  that  her  skirts  haven  ot 
been  already  bemired  and  her  spirit  bewitched — as  Israel  of  old  was 
wont  to  be  by  the  encroaching  heathen. 

To  surely  prevent  this,  under  that  propitious  Providence  which  has 
watched  all  your  ships  sail  safe  from  shore  to  shore,  let  picked  emigrants 
from  our  schools  and  Universities,  and  the  better  classes  of  colored  citizens 
go  out ; in  numbers  corresponding  at  least  with  that  constant  inflow  of 
country  life  which  keeps  our  own  cities  supplied  with  their  reviving  ele- 
ment, and  the  young  Republic  will  swell  but  never  stagnate,  and  will 
age  but  not  lose  its  youth. 

Its  present  population  of  three  quarters  of  a million  is  not  sufBcentto 
pierce  the  masses  of  moral  corruption  without  becoming  contaminated 
itself.  And  the  best  addition  will  be  well  bred  brothers  of  their  own  blood 
who  carry  from  home  our  highest  and  holiest  ideas  of  education  and  re- 
ligion to  repeatedly  refresh  their  aspirations  and  piety. 

And  as  it  is  your  aim  to  accomplish  just  this,  I think  the  effort  ought 
to  succeed:  and  for  a final  fourth  reason. 

To  afford  a reasonable  argument  why  other  attempts  to  save  Af- 
rica ought  to  be  aided.  At  the  outset  of  this  enterprise  the  end  in  view 
stopped  with  your  good  will  to  free  people  of  color  in  this  country.  Now 
all  are  politically  free : and  the  emphasis  of  your  endeavor  rests  not  on 
narrower  but  on  broader  grounds.  Then  it  was  for  the  benefit  of  some 
Africans.  Now  it  is  for  all  Africans  and  all  Africa.  But  if  Liberia  is  not 
made  a success  after  what  has  been  given  to  it  of  the  head  and  heart  of 
many  of  the  purest  philanthropists  which  this  century  has  produced,  what 
can  be  hoped  for  on  the  more  hostile  Eastern  Coast,  or  at  Mtesa’s  court? 
Neither  the  East  nor  the  interior  offer  greater  facilities  of  approach ; nor 
a kindlier  reception  to  the  new  comer.  Their  airs  are  not  so  salubrious, 
nor  soil  more  prolific,  nor  population  more  promising  subjects  of  Chris- 
tian civilizations. 

So  that  when  Liberia  shall  come  to  disappoint  the  expectations  of  its 
founders  and  friends,  the  wisdom  of  expending  life  and  treasure  on  any 
further  attempt  to  dissipate  the  darkness  from  the  Transvaal  to  the  Al- 
bert Nyanza  will  be  pointedly  questioned  by  practical  men. 

It  is  not  because  I have  consented  to  say  something  on  this  occasion, 
that  the  claims  of  this  work  draw  my  warmest  words  of  approval.  I am 


12 


not  subsidized  to  utter  an  endorsement,  by  a desire  to  receive  your  ap- 
proval, who  have  placed  me  here.  Any  want  of  interest  in  me  during 
the  past  has  been  due  to  ignorance  and  misapprehension ; and  to  the  fact, 
that  only  in  the  last  few  years  have  the  claims  of  the  dark  continent  and 
of  the  colored  people  pressed  to  the  front  of  philanthropic  questions. 

Even  now  no  violent  rapture  sweeps  me  from  the  place  of  reason. 
No  utopian  dream  of  drawing  everybody  into  admiration  of  African 
Colonization  fill  my  mind.  But  by  as  much  as  I gather  together  the 
facts  of  history,  motives  of  action,  and  achievements  of  good  which  arc 
already  recorded  of  your  attempt  to  plant  a land  of  the  free  and  a home 
for  the  black  in  Liberia,  by  so  much  does  it  appear  impossible  that 
divine  Providence  will  allow  you  to  want  any  good  thing. 

Around  the  entire  rim  of  that  great  continent  beacons  have  been 
lighted  and  beginnings  made.  But  no  where  is  the  light  so  prismatical- 
ly  pure,  containing  so  many  of  the  colors  that  blend  to  make  the  white 
beam,  as  that  which  shines  off  the  shores  of  Liberia.  I would  it  were 
only  by  a flight  of  fancy,  that  I see  there  the  one  strong-hold  of  our  ho- 
ly religion ; and  the  one  place  where  the  son  of  man  when  He  cometh 
will  find  faith  on  the  earth.  Naturally  a more  religious  race  than  any; 
and  so  easily  captivated  by  the  name  of  Christ  that  colored  people  nev- 
er yield  to  anything  so  cordially  as  to  the  most  Biblical  religion,  it  may 
be  that  they  in  their  own  saved  conutry  may  yet  become  the  cliiefest 
custodians  of  its  sacraments,  services  and  traditions.  That  if  philosophi- 
zing Europe,  and  fashionable  America,  and  idolatrous  Asia  shall  ever 
have  lost  themselves  in  a turmoil  of  debate,  in  a whirl  of  imitations,  or 
laid  down  in  a lethargy  of  indifference — as  Asia  is  fast  doing,  Africa 
may  be  holding  fast  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 

A distinguished  and  venerable  bishop  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  was 
preaching  in  my  hearing  at  Saratoga.  Ilis  topic  was;  the  trials  and 
triumphs  of  Christianity.  Selecting  many  striking  examples  in  old 
Testament  times  where  the  powers  of  evil  tried  but  failed  to  destroy  the 
Church  of  God,  lie  came  to  the  advent  of  Christ.  Now,  said  the  preach- 
er, Satan  and  his  forces  were  fired  with  a fierce  purpose;  they  would 
not  be  foiled  in  this  attempt.  This  is  the  son,  they  said  ; come  let  us 
kill  him  that  the  inheritance  may  be  ours. 

And  so  all  the  aids  of  the  adversary  combined  and  engaged  Ilcrod 
to  kill  the  child  Jesus.  But  when  the  Lord  saw  how  strong  they  were, 
and  Fie  had  no  place  of  safety  for  his  sou  outside  of  Egypt;  lie  just 
ordered  Joseph  to  take  the  young  child  and  its  mother  and  go  down 
among  the  colored  people:  and  stay  until  He  brought  him  word  again. 
“As  it  is  written  out  of  Egypt  have  I called  my  son.”  It  had  been  known 
and  written  by  inspiration  long  before  it  happened  that  there  would 
come  a time  when  the  only  safe  place  for  the  infant  Christ  would  be 
down  among  the  colored  people.  Is  there  any  other  Scripture  in  His 
mind,  that  reads;  the  time  will  come  when  the  cause  of  Chirst  will 
have  no  place  of  perfect  acceptance  and  safety  except  in  Africa,  among 
the  colored  people? 


